Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be a life-changing treatment for many people who suffer from major depressive disorder who have not received benefit from medications, or for those unable to tolerate the debilitating symptoms often associated with medications.

Today, TMS is a buzzword that’s quickly making a name – not only in the medical and scientific communities, but among the general population as well. While TMS is most commonly used to treat major depressive disorder, it is also used to treat a number of other mental health and neurological conditions. Presently, TMS is FDA-approved for adult patients with major depression or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). However, most major insurance companies, including Medicare and Tricare, only cover TMS for depression at present.

TMS is considered a very safe and effective treatment alternative that simply works by stimulating brain cells through magnetic pulses. The nice thing about TMS is that it is a non-invasive, non-drug therapy that doesn’t cause the undesired systemic side effects that most antidepressants cause. For those who have not responded well to antidepressant medications or who can not tolerate their side effects, then TMS should strongly be considered.

While TMS offers many people long-term remission from their depressive or OCD symptoms, there are many factors to consider when someone doesn’t seem to respond favorably. Generally, when receiving TMS therapy patients will either respond early in treatment with a gradual improvement in their symptoms, or they will be late responders. Most patients tend to respond later rather than early on in the course of treatment. This means that more often than not, patients can expect to start feeling a lift from their symptoms around the fourth to fifth week of treatment. At TMS Institute of America, we monitor patients for symptom improvement at every treatment. This allows us to respond immediately when changes in the treatment protocol are warranted or when the physician needs to consider other factors that may have influence on patient outcomes.

Most importantly, we ensure that our patients are well educated up front about all aspects of their TMS treatment, such as notifying us of any medication changes. Helping patients to know what to expect and what they need to communicate up front, promotes a successful outcome. We also make every attempt to rule out any underlying medical concerns that could also lead to symptoms of depression. Making sure our patients have a pleasant and positive response to their TMS treatment is our #1 priority.

Scientists and researchers are consistently studying TMS, and it’s expected to grow in popularity for a number of other treatable conditions, including treatment for adolescents and teens. We also anticipate improvements in the treatment regimens for those conditions currently being treated with TMS. With over 2 million treatments performed, TMS Institute of America is proud to offer NeuroStar TMS and offer our patients hope for long-term remission from their symptoms of depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD.

To be considered for TMS therapy, you may call TMS Institute of America at 1-833-TMS-HELP to schedule a free consultation.